Abstract: A technique is disclosed for generating variance data and a variance map from measured projection data acquired from a tomography system. The method comprises accessing the measured projection data from the tomography system. The method further comprises generating the variance map from the measured projection data and displaying, analyzing or processing the variance map. The variance data is determined based upon a statistical model from measured image data, and may be used for image analysis, data acquisition, in computer aided diagnosis routines, and so forth.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system in an example comprises a high frequency electromagnetic energy source, a detector, a data acquisition system (DAS), and a computer. The high frequency electromagnetic energy source emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged and be resolved by the system. The detector receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source. The DAS is operably connected to the detector. The computer is operably connected to the DAS and programmed to employ an inversion table or function to convert N+2 measured projections at different incident spectra into material specific integrals for N+2 materials that comprise two non K-edge basis materials and N K-edge contrast agents. N comprises an integer greater than or equal to 1.

Abstract: A system and method of density and effective atomic number imaging include a computer programmed to acquire projection data from the detector of an unknown material at the time of projection data acquisition. The computer is also programmed to generate a density image for the unknown material based on a calibration of two or more known basis materials and to generate an effective atomic number (Z) for the unknown material based on the calibration of two or more known basis materials and based on a function arctan of a ratio of atomic numbers of the two or more known basis materials. The density and effective atomic number images are stored to a computer readable storage medium.

Abstract: A system and method for ascertaining the identity of an object within an enclosed article. The system includes an acquisition subsystem with a computed tomography machine and an alternate modality subsystem. The alternate modality subsystem includes a detector mounted to a rotatable gantry. The detector may be a quadrupole resonance unit, a dual energy x-ray unit, or a backscatter x-ray unit. The acquisition subsystem analyzes an article and distinguishes regions of interest (may contain contraband) from regions of no interest (do not contain contraband). The article is then transported to the alternate modality subsystem at which the detector further analyzes just the regions of interest.

Abstract: An imaging scanner includes a radiation source, a radiation detector, and a computer programmed to decompose CT data acquired by the radiation detector into a set of pixels, each pixel having at least a first basis material content and a second basis material content. The computer is further programmed to identify a first subset of the set of pixels as a possible embolism, based on the content of the first basis material and the content of the second basis material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing artifacts in image data generated by a computed tomography system is provided. The artifacts are due to the presence of a high density object in a subject of interest. CT data is acquired at a number of differing tilt angles. The data is then combined and reconstructed to generate an improved composite image substantially free of artifacts caused by the high density object.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source that emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged, a detector that receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source, and a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the detector. A computer is operably connected to the DAS and is programmed to generate corresponding sets of projection values for three or more energy spectra through employment of attenuation coefficients of three or more basis materials to simulate responses of the diagnostic imaging system to a plurality of lengths of the three or more basis materials wherein the three or more basis materials comprise two or more non K-edge basis materials and one or more K-edge basis materials.

Abstract: A system and method for ascertaining the identity of an object within an enclosed article. The system includes an acquisition subsystem utilizing a stationary radiation source and detector, a reconstruction subsystem, a computer-aided detection (CAD) subsystem, and a 2D/3D visualization subsystem. The detector may be an energy discriminating detector. The acquisition subsystem communicates view data to the reconstruction subsystem, which reconstructs it into image data and communicates it to the CAD subsystem. The CAD subsystem analyzes the image data to ascertain whether it contains any area of interest. Any such area of interest data is sent to the reconstruction subsystem for further reconstruction, using more rigorous algorithms and further analyzed by the CAD subsystem. Other information, such as risk variables or trace chemical detection information may be communicated to the CAD subsystem to be included in its analysis.

Abstract: A system and method of density and effective atomic number imaging include a computer programmed to acquire projection data from the detector of an unknown material at the time of projection data acquisition. The computer is also programmed to generate a density image for the unknown material based on a calibration of two or more known basis materials and to generate an effective atomic number (Z) for the unknown material based on the calibration of two or more known basis materials and based on a function arctan of a ratio of atomic numbers of the two or more known basis materials. The density and effective atomic number images are stored to a computer readable storage medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing artifacts in image data generated by a computed tomography system is provided. The artifacts are due to the presence of a high density object in a subject of interest. CT data is acquired at a number of differing tilt angles. The data is then combined and reconstructed to generate an improved composite image substantially free of artifacts caused by the high density object.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system in an example comprises a high frequency electromagnetic energy source, a detector, a data acquisition system (DAS), and a computer. The high frequency electromagnetic energy source emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged and be resolved by the system. The detector receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source. The DAS is operably connected to the detector. The computer is operably connected to the DAS and programmed to employ an inversion table or function to convert N+2 measured projections at different incident spectra into material specific integrals for N+2 materials that comprise two non K-edge basis materials and N K-edge contrast agents. N comprises an integer greater than or equal to 1.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for detecting contraband by obtaining image data from a computed tomography machine and generating variance data and a variance map from the image data acquired. The method includes obtaining a mean density value and a variation value for each voxel of the image data, segmenting the voxels into discrete objects, and determining whether any of the discrete objects is contraband.

Abstract: A method of scanning a subject to be imaged is presented. The method includes acquiring projection data from a first region of a pixel, where the first region has a first area. Additionally, the method includes acquiring projection data from a second region of the pixel, where the second region has a second area. The method also includes combining projection data from the first and second regions to obtain composite projection data for the pixel. Computer-readable medium and systems that afford functionality of the type defined by this method are also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.

Abstract: A method for reducing mis-registration during multiple energy scanning on computed tomographic (CT) imaging systems or multiple energy electron beam tomographic (EBT) systems includes scanning a portion of a patient including a cyclically moving body part using a multiple energy computed tomographic (CT) imaging system or multiple energy electron beam tomographic (EBT) system having at least two different energies, monitoring the cyclically moving body part, and gating the multiple energy CT imaging system or multiple energy EBT system in accordance with the monitored cyclically moving body part so that acquisitions are acquired at at least two different kVps. The data acquired at the different kVps are then utilized to generate material decomposition images of the cyclically moving body part.

Abstract: A computed tomography detector module is presented. The detector module includes a substrate having a topside and a bottom side. Additionally, the detector module includes a plurality of detector layers disposed on the top side of the substrate in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the substrate, where each of the plurality of detector layers comprises a direct conversion material configured to absorb radiation, and where each of the plurality of detector layers comprises a first side and a second side. Further, the detector module includes a plurality of pixelated anode contacts is disposed on the first side of each of the plurality of detector layers. Also, the detector module includes a common cathode contact is disposed on the second side of each of the plurality of detector layers.